Handle for Free Weights

ABSTRACT

A handle assembly for lifting free weights includes a body, a weight shaft extending orthogonally from the body along a longitudinal axis for insertion into a through opening in a weight plate, and a handle assembly including a handle shaft extending upwardly from the body and terminating in a handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a handle assembly that is used to assist aperson to lift free weight plates for body building.

Description of the Related Art

Weight plates are typically slid over bars to lift for weight training.Using the weights with bars, however, limits the types of exercises thatcan be performed and, as a result, limits the muscle groups that can beexercised.

It would be beneficial to provide a handle for weight plates to allow auser to lift the weight plates using different methods to exercise othermuscle groups, such as for doing bicep curls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a handle assembly forlifting free weights. The assembly includes a body, a weight shaftextending orthogonally from the body along a longitudinal axis forinsertion into a through opening in a weight plate, and a handle shaftextending upwardly from the body and terminating in a pivotally attachedhandle at a pivot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitutepart of this specification, illustrate the presently preferredembodiments of the invention, and, together with the general descriptiongiven above and the detailed description given below, serve to explainthe features of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a handle device for lifting a freeweight plate according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 being insertedthrough a free weight plate;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 3 insertedthrough the free weight plate;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the device and weight of FIG. 4,with a retainer clip inserted over a weight shaft of the device tosecure the free weight plate to the device;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with the clip ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the device and free weight of FIG.6, with the clip of FIG. 5 partially inserted over the weight shaft;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1, with optionalthrough openings in the weight shaft for a pin;

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the device and weight plate of FIG.1;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view, in section of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10A is a side elevational view of the device and weight plate ofFIG. 1, showing the range of motion of the handle of the device;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of ahandle for the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of an alternative configuration forsecuring the weight plate to the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of another alternative configurationfor securing the weight plate to the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of aconfiguration for securing the weight plate to the inventive device,with the device is a secured position;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 14, with thedevice in a weight loading position;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of a handle device for lifting a freeweight plate according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of the device and weight plate ofFIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a rear elevational view of the handle device of FIG. 1attached to a weight vest;

FIG. 19 is a rear elevational view of the vest of FIG. 18, with thehandle device removed;

FIG. 20 is a front elevational view of the vest of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of the vest of FIG. 19; and

FIG. 22 is an enlarged side elevational view of the vest of FIG. 18,with a handle device attached to the vest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout.Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to betaken as a limitation on the present invention. The terminology includesthe words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words ofsimilar import. The embodiments illustrated below are not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed.These embodiments are chosen and described to best explain the principleof the invention and its application and practical use and to enableothers skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of theinvention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in variousplaces in the specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments necessarilymutually exclusive of other embodiments. The same applies to the term“implementation.”

As used in this application, the word “exemplary” is used herein to meanserving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or designdescribed herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use ofthe word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concretefashion.

Additionally, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” ratherthan an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise, or clearfrom context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the naturalinclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or Xemploys both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any ofthe foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as usedin this application and the appended claims should generally beconstrued to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear fromcontext to be directed to a singular form.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, each numerical value and rangeshould be interpreted as being approximate as if the word “about” or“approximately” preceded the value of the value or range.

The use of figure numbers and/or figure reference labels in the claimsis intended to identify one or more possible embodiments of the claimedsubject matter in order to facilitate the interpretation of the claims.Such use is not to be construed as necessarily limiting the scope ofthose claims to the embodiments shown in the corresponding figures.

The present invention is used to assist a person to lift free weightplates for body building. Referring to FIGS. 1-10 a first embodiment ofa lifting handle assembly 100 according to the present invention isshown. Assembly 100 engages one or more weight plates 50 to allow a userto lift weight plate 50 for body building exercises, such as bicepcurls. Weight plate 50 can be typically provided in 5, 10, 25, 35, and45 lb denominations, although other sizes are contemplated by thepresent invention. Bumper plates are rubberized weight plates that areprovided in a roughly standardized diameter of 17.5 inches. This is aspecific style of weight plate and the present invention is specific tofunction with those type of weights.| FIG. 10 shows a weight plate 50and a thinner, lighter weight plate 50′. By way of example only, plate50 can be a 25 lb weight, while plate 50′ can be a 10 lb weight. Weightplate 50, 50′ has a central through opening 52, 52′, respectively, thatis generally two inches standard in diameter to allow for the insertionof a barbell (not shown), assembly 100, or other lifting device.

Assembly 100 includes a body 102 that presses against weight plate 50and a weight shaft 104 that extends orthogonally from body 102 along alongitudinal axis 105 for insertion into through opening 52 in weightplate 50. In an exemplary embodiment, body 102 includes a generallycircular Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) foam cushion 103, across the body102 from weight shaft, with weight shaft 104 generally centered oncushion 103. Cushion 103 provides protection against handle assembly 100rubbing or banging against body parts, such as an elbow, during use.Referring to FIG. 8, body 102 has a length AB and acts as a backstopagainst weight plate 50.

A handle shaft 120 extends upwardly from body 102 and terminates in apivotally attached handle assembly 130 at a pivot 131. Handle assembly130 includes a handle 132 and a weight clamp 134 that pivots over anangle δ over the top of weight plates 50, 50′ to secure weight plates50, 50′ to assembly 100 (position “A” in FIG. 10A). Handle assembly 130can pivot so that weight clamp 134 is lifted above weight plate 50, 50′(position “B” in FIG. 10A) to facilitate insertion or removal of weightplate 50, 50′ onto or from weight shaft 104.

Weight shaft 104 has a generally rectangular cross section with upperand lower arcuate transverse ribs 110, 112, respectively having slots114, 116, respectively, formed between adjacent ribs 110, 112. Parallelside walls 118, 119 extend between ribs 110, 112.

Slots 114, 116 are sized to accept a retainer clip 150, shown in FIGS. 6and 7. Clip 150 is generally U-shaped with opposing arms 152, 154. AC-shaped connector 156 connects arms 152, 154. Free ends of arms 152,154 extend toward each other and are spaced less than the distancebetween side walls 118, 119 and extend outwardly to approximately thedistance between side walls 118, 119. After weigh plate 50 is slid overweight shaft 104, clip 150 can be slid over weight shaft 104 throughselected slots 114, 116 to secure weight plate 50 to assembly 100. Asclip 150 is slid over weight shaft 104, the free ends of arms 152, 154bias outwardly to allow clip 150 to be further advanced until the freeends of arms 152, 154 extend past weight shaft 104, allowing the freeends of arms 152, 154 to snap back to their unbiased position, securingclip 150 onto weight shaft 104.

Slots 114, 116 are wide enough to snugly allow clip to be inserted intoa selected slot 114, 116, and ribs 110, 112 are spaced from each otherto minimize and “float” or “slop” between clip 150 and weight plate 50.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 8, instead of or in addition to ribs 110,112 and slots 114, 116, through openings 125 can be formed throughweight shaft 104 orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 105 of weight shaft104. A pin (not shown) can be inserted though the through opening 125 tosecure weight plate 50 to weight shaft 104. Such pins are well known inweight lifting, such as those used to select weights from a weight stackfor lifting machines. Alternatively, a torsion spring clamp, such asthose used to secure weight plates to lifting bars, can also be used.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, handle shaft 120 extends sufficiently farfrom body 102 to allow handle assembly 130 and, specifically, weightclamp 134, to pivot along axle 135 over the top of weight plate 50. Asshown in FIG. 10A, handle assembly 130 can pivot approximately 60degrees between a position “A” and a position “B”, although thoseskilled in the art will recognize that handle assembly 130 can pivotmore or less than 60 degrees.

Handle 132 includes arms 136, 138 that extend upwardly from weight clamp134. A horizontal connector 140 connects arms 136, 138. In an exemplaryembodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, connector 140 is rotatably attached toarms 136, 138 so that connector 140 can rotate as assembly 100 withweight plate 50 is being lifted. A single axle 142 extends from arm 136,through horizontal connector 140 to arm 138 and allows horizontalconnector 140 to rotate relative to arms 136, 138.

A lip 146 extends at an oblique angle relative to weight clamp 134. Lip146 helps to redirect the imposed reactionary forces from lifting theweight plate 50 to push weight plate 50 back onto the body 102.

As shown in FIG. 10A, a grip distance “G” is the distance between handleconnector 140 and a centerline of body 102 when handle 130 is pivoted sothat weight clamp 134 is over weight plates 50, 50′. Grip distance Gprovides for adequate space between where a user's hand can comfortablyfit and the back of assembly 100.

In alternative embodiments, shown in FIG. 12, instead of clip 150, aknown spring clip collar 250 can be used to secure weight plate 50 ontoassembly 100. Alternatively, instead of weight shaft 104 with ribs 110,112 and slots 114, 106, as shown in FIG. 13, a weight shaft 304 can bethreaded, with a nut 350 that can be threaded onto weight shaft 304 tosnug weight plate 50 against body 102.

In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, instead ofhandle assembly 130 being pivotally attached to handle shaft 120, handleassembly 430 can be attached to an extendable handle shaft 420 thatclamps down on weight plate 50 as shown in FIG. 14 but can be extendedas shown in FIG. 15 to allow insertion/removal of weight plate 50.

Handle shaft 420 includes a lower shaft portion 422 and an upper shaftportion 430 telescopically inserted into lower shaft portion 422. Whenshaft 420 is in the configuration shown in FIG. 14, thorough openings ineach of lower shaft portion 422 and upper shaft portion 424 align,allowing a pin (not shown) to be inserted through both through openingsto secure upper shaft portion 424 to lower shaft portion 422, andsecuring weight plate 50 to body 402 with weight clamp 430. Weight shaft402 can incorporate any of the securing mechanisms described herein tofurther secure weight plate 50 to body 402.

This exemplary embodiment can be used to attach plates having an outerdiameter less than 17.5 inches, i.e., iron Olympic style weight plates,which have reduced diameters due to their greater density than therubberized “bumper plates” Extendable handle shaft 420 accounts for thesmaller diameter of the 35 lb, 25 lb, 10 lb weights. Thus, the abilityto stack the weights is also limited, as well as the order in which theweights are installed, i.e., one would want to put the smallest diameterweight against lower shaft portion 422 and the largest diameter closerto the end of the shaft 404 to trap the smaller weights when weightclamp 430 is compressed downward to clamp the weights in place.

In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, handle assembly300 is fixedly attached to handle shaft 520, with weight shaft 504extending orthogonally from body 502. Weight shaft 504 includes an innershaft portion 506 that is eccentrically mounted on a pivot shaft 510. Aplurality of retainer stops 512 are also eccentrically mounted on pivotshaft 510 adjacent to inner shaft portion 510.

A first weight plate 50 can be inserted over shaft 510 and onto innershaft portion 510. Optionally, subsequent weight plates (not shown) canbe added in a similar fashion. After the last desired weight plate isinserted, the retainer stop 512 external to and adjacent to the lastweight plate can be rotated about pivot shaft 510, effectively lockingthe weight plates between that retainer stop 512 and body 502 forlifting.

Due to the significant amount that weight plate 50 weighs more than theinventive device, in operation of any embodiment described above, thecombined center of gravity of the weight plate and device isapproximately the same location as that of the center of gravity of theweight plate alone. This results in the entire assembly of the inventivedevice with the weight plate lifting generally vertically withoutsignificant tilting of the weight plate from the vertical, allowing fora controlled lift.

Referring to FIGS. 18-22, a weight vest 600 can be worn by a user tosupport any of the handle devices described above and shown herein. Vest60 has a handle nest 602 extending outwardly therefrom that allows thehandle of any of the handle devices to be inserted thereon andvertically support the handle device to allow the user to engage inother types of weight lifting exercise, such as squats, or to just walkwith the additional weight provided by the handle assembly and anyweight plates 50 that the user desires to add to the handle assembly.

Handle nest 602 can be attached to a frame 604 that includes a pair ofshoulder straps 610 that extend upwardly from frame 604, over theshoulders of the user, down the front of that user (shown in FIG. 20),under the user's arms, and back to a lower part 612 of frame 604. Frontconnector strap portions 614, 616 extend across the user's chest fromeach of straps 610 and releasably connect to each other at the user'schest.

Handle nest 602 includes a concave receiver 620 that allows the handleof a handle device to be inserted thereon. A releasable cover strap 622can extend from a first receiver portion 624 to a second receiverportion 626 on handle nest 602. Cover strap 622 can be fixed to one ofreceiver portions 624, 626 and releasably connectable to the other ofreceiver portions 624, 626. Alternatively, cover strap can be releasablyconnectable to both of receiver portions 624, 626.

With weight plates 50 secured to the handle assembly on weight vest 600,the user can get the benefit of exercising with the weights, but withouthaving to hold the weights in their hands. 110

It will be further understood that various changes in the details,materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described andillustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention as expressed in the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A handle assembly for lifting free weights comprising: abody; a weight shaft extending orthogonally from the body along alongitudinal axis for insertion into a through opening in a weightplate; and a handle assembly comprising a handle shaft extendingupwardly from the body and terminating in a handle.
 2. The handleassembly according to claim 1, wherein the handle is pivotally attachedto the handle shaft at a pivot.
 3. The handle assembly according toclaim 2, wherein the handle assembly further comprises a weight clamppivotally coupled to the pivot.
 4. The handle assembly according toclaim 3 wherein the handle is pivotable such that the weight clamp islifted above the weight plate to facilitate insertion or removal of theweight plate onto or from the weight shaft.
 5. The handle assemblyaccording to claim 3, wherein the handle comprises a pair of armsextending upwardly from the weight clamp.
 6. The handle assemblyaccording to claim 5, wherein the handle further comprises a horizontalconnector connecting the arms.
 7. The handle assembly according to claim6, wherein the connector is rotatably attached to the arms such that theconnector rotates as the assembly is lifted.
 8. The handle assemblyaccording to claim 3, further comprising a lip extending from the weightclamp at an oblique angle relative to weight clamp.
 9. The handleassembly according to claim 1, wherein the weight shaft has a generallyrectangular cross section with upper and lower arcuate transverse ribsrespectively having slots formed between adjacent ribs.
 10. The handleassembly according to claim 9, wherein parallel side walls extendbetween the ribs.
 11. The handle assembly according to claim 9, furthercomprising a retainer clip, wherein each of the slots is sized to acceptthe retainer clip.
 12. The handle assembly according to claim 1, furthercomprising a cushion attached to the body, across the body from theweight shaft.
 13. The handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein thehandle shaft includes a lower shaft portion attached to the body and anupper shaft portion telescopically extendable from the lower shaftportion.
 14. A weight lifting assembly comprising: the handle assemblyaccording to claim 1; and a weight vest wearable by a user to supportthe handle assembly.
 15. The weight lifting assembly according to claim13, wherein the vest comprises a handle nest extending outwardlytherefrom that allows the to be inserted thereon and vertically supportthe handle assembly.
 16. The weight lifting assembly according to claim15, wherein the handle nest is attached to a vest frame.
 17. The weightlifting assembly according to claim 16, wherein the vest furthercomprises a pair of shoulder straps extending upwardly from the frameand to a lower part of the frame.
 18. The weight lifting assemblyaccording to claim 17, wherein the shoulder straps comprise frontconnector strap portions extending therefrom and releasably connectableto each other.
 19. The weight lifting assembly according to claim 15,wherein the handle nest comprises a concave receiver configured to allowthe handle of the handle device to be inserted thereon.
 20. The weightlifting assembly according to claim 19, wherein the concave receivercomprises a releasable cover strap extending from a first receiverportion to a second receiver portion on the handle nest.